Stapling device



F. R. CURTISS STAPLING DEVICE ec. l, 1953 Filed Jan. 21, 1955 PatentedDec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLING DEVICE Frank R.Curtiss, New Haven, Conn.

Application January 21, 1953, Serial No. 332,232

8 Claims.

This invention relates to stapling devices and more particularly tomeans for facilitating the insertion of staples into the staplemagazine.

Heretofore in stapling devices, a staple magazine was provided and astaple pusher was inserted in the magazine to urge the staples in themagazine into stapling position. Many eiforts have been made to providea means by which the staples can be readily inserted as, for example, byproviding the pusher with a fingerpiece whereby it can be removed fromthe rear open end of the magazine, but this usually requires substantialhandling of the pusher in moving it out of and back into the magazine.Also pushers of this type are usually urged forward by a flat, woundspring which when flexed to move the pusher out of the magazine tends tofatigue and break. The present invention overcomes these difficulties byproviding a structure which is simple to operate, may be quicklyactuated, and which leaves the operators hands free to insert the sticksof staples into the magazine.

In carrying out the present invention a member, which may also form thecover for the magazine, is pivoted adjacent the forward end of the armhaving the magazine for movement to,- Ward and away from the arm. Themember is so constructed that it carries the staple pusher and the meansurging the staple pusher. for movement therewith and is provided withmeans for latching the staple pusher in a retracted position and themember in covering position,

=Whi0h latter means may be released to permit the member andpusher to bemoved away to- .gether from the magazine to aiford easy access to therear open end of the magazine for the insertion of the staples.

A feature of the inventionresides in the fact that the staple pushingmeans, being connected to the member or cover whichis swung away toafford access to the open rear end of the magazine, is automaticallyremoved from the magazine thus freeing the operator's hands from the thefact that the means for urging the pusher is mounted on the member formovement there with so that there is no occasion to flex the same andcause fatigue.

Another feature of the invention resides in the simple, yet effectiveconstruction of the parts and their operation. A

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thespecification and claims when considered in connection with the drawingsin which:

Figure 1 shows a side View partly in section of the device of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the arm taken along lines 44 of Fig. 1.

The stapling device of the present inventlon may be used for manypurposes and in many organizations but is particularly adapted for aconstruction in which the stapling device is suspended from a support. a

As shown in the drawings-the device comprisesa base l0 having keyholesll whereby it may be suspended on a vertical supporting surface (notshown). Pivotally connected to the rear'end of the base is an arm I2 toextend downwardly over the base and urged by spring l3 into the .raisedposition shown in Fig. 1 in which it is stopped by stop member M." Thearm, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, has a staple magazineformed therein by aU-shaped passage I5 extending therethrough and providing-a staplesupporting core IE to receive and support sticks of inverted U-shapedstaples S.. The magazine is open at the'rear end for the insertion ofstaples and terminates at its forward end adjacent a staple drivingmeans I! carried by a staple driving head l8 formed at the forward endof the arm. If desired, staple'guiding members I9, Fig. 3., may beprovided on the arm to overlie the top edges of the staples and preventthe stick of staples from buckling as they are being fed into stapledriving position.

Disposed in the staple passage to the rear of the stick of staples is aU-shaped staple pusher 20 which, according to the present invention, is

.carried by a member 2| overlying the arm. This member may take manyforms but in the present form of the invention it extends over the armand in addition forms a hollow cover therefor. A feature of the presentinvention resides in the pivoting of the member adjacent the forward endof the arm for movement to and from the position overlying the arm asshown in Fig. 1. While the member may be pivoted in any manner, it isherein illustrated as being mounted on the stapling head by an offsetpivot means 22 connected to an extension am of the cover.

In mounting the pusher on the cover for movement therewith, it is atpresent preferred to provide an elongate rod 23 located within the coverpassing through an aperture 20a in a manipulating finger 2012 connectedto and projecting upwardly from the staple pusher. The finger projectsupwardly above the cover through a longitudinal slot 2 lb in the coverto enable the staple pusher to move longitudinally therealqng and alongthe magazine.

The pusher is urged forwardly to feed thestaples in the magazine tostaple driving position. by urging means carried by and movable with thecover. In the illustrated form of the inven: tion this comprises a coilspring 24 surrounding the rod b ck of the pus so s n l u g e us e embefor ard y d p sit the staples in staple driving position wherein thestaple driving means forces the staple through t work o hown) and i t aent with the s a le t rn n mean med in th ba since the spring urgingthe; pusher moves with the cover, it; is not flexed during eachreplenishment of the magazine and hence does, not become fatigued andbrolgen.

In accordance with the present invention a pivoted latch 25 is mountedon the cover adjacent the rear end, of the arm and has a portion 25anormally urged by spring 26 into a position to overlie the elongateslot. When the pusher is moved to retracted position by the manipulatingfinger, the finger will snap past the portion of the latch and uponbeing released will engage the latch and the, pusher will be heldretracted position. Spring 24. will maintain the finger pressed, againstthe latch and an ear 250. on the latch will prevent movement of thelatch under urging of the spring 24.

It, will be. noted in Fig. 3 that the. staple guiding members l9 forthe. magazine terminate inward- 1y from the rear of the magazine so.that when the staple pusher is held by thev latch in .retracted positionit will be. located to the rear of the guides and free of the guides sothat when the member or cover 2| is moved about its pivot the pushercanreadily move with the member out. of the magazine.

Normally the cover is held in overlying relation with, the arm andagainst movement about the ,pivot byreleasablelatch means. In theillustrated form of the invention the latch means comprises a dependinglatch member 21 pivotally carried by the cover and having a projectingportion 231d adapted to engage the undersurface. of the, arm to hold thecover in position- While any suitable spring may be used to urge thelatch into cover holding position, it is at present preferred to,utilize spring 26 which is connected to latch 25v for this purpose byconnecting the opposite end to latch 21 as shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to replenish the supply of staples, it is merelynecessary to engage the manipulating finger band move. the staple pusherto latched retracted position. Latch member 21 is then actuated to. moveportion 21a out of engagement with the arm and releasing the cover withthe retracted pusher latched in retracted position for movement awayfrom the arm, thus exposing the rear staple receiving opening in themagazine to readily receive staples therein. The cover can pivotcompletely about its pivot so that it will hang in a depending positionif desired, or any suitable stop means, not shown, may be interposed inthe path of movement of the member to stop it with the desired opemng.

Since the operator does not have to handle the staple pusher during thereplenishing operation and the member or cover carrying the pusher ismoved away from the arm so that ample room is afforded for the insertionof the staples, the replenishment of the staples in the magazine may beaccomplished very quickly and easily.

- After a supply of staples has been inserted in a magazine, it ismerely necessary to move the cover back to latched position overlyingthe arm. In doing so the pusher is automatically positioned in thestaple receiving passage so that upon release of the pusher latch thecoil spring automatically moves the pusher into engagement with thestaples to urge them into staple feeding position.

In order to facilitate the movement of the cover back into overlyingrelation with the arm, guide means 28 are provided which extend downover the sides of the arm and guide the cover into proper relationtherewith, as it is swung about its pivot.

Thus it will be seen that With the device of the present invention,which can be formed of any suitable material, replenishment of thestaple supplies is greatly facilitated.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements, may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a stapling device having an arm provided with a rear openingstaple magazine to receive and hold a supply of staples therein and astaple driving means adjacent the forward end, and a staple pusherpositioned in said magazine and urged forwardly therein to feed staplesto said staple driving means; the improvement wherein a rearwardlyextending member is pivotally carried by the arm and is movable aboutsaid pivot to and from a position overlying the arm; means on the pusherfor moving the pusher to retracted position; means on the member forengaging and releasably holding the pusher in retracted position formovement with said member and. out of the, magazine; and meansreleasably holding the member in position overlying the arm, said meansbeing released to permit movement of the member and retracted pusherabout the pivotaway from the arm to expose the rear staple receivingopening in the magazine to readily receive staples therein.

2. In a stapling device having an arm provided with a. rear openingstaple magazine to receive and hold a supply of staples therein and astaple driving means adjacent the forward end; the improvement wherein amember is pivotally carried by the arm and is movable'about said pivotto and from a position overlying the arm; a staple feeding pushermounted on the member for movementtherewith and for longitudinalmovement therealong, said pusher being adapted to be positioned inv themagazine to engage the supply of staples therein; means. mounted on themember forurging the Pusher forwardly to feed thestaples to the stapledriving means; means on the pusher for moving the pusher to retractedposition; means on the member for engaging and releasably holding thepusher in retracted position; and means releasably holding the member inposition overlying the arm, said means being released to permit movementof the member and retracted pusher away from the arm to expose the rearstaple receiving opening in the magazine to readily receive staplestherein.

3. In a stapling device having an arm provided with a rear openingstaple magazine to receive and hold a supply of staples therein and astaple driving means adjacent the forward end, said magazine havingguiding means overlying the staples and terminating inwardly from therear end of the arm; the improvement wherein a member is pivotallycarried by the arm and is movable about said pivot to and from aposition overlying the arm; a staple feeding pusher mounted on themember for movement therewith and for longitudinal movement therealong,said pusher being adapted to be positioned in the magazine to engage thesupply of staples therein; means mounted on the member for urging thepusher forwardly to feed the staples to the staple driving means; meanson the pusher for moving the pusher to retracted position; means on themember for engaging and releasably holding the pusher in retractedposition to the rear of the end of and free from said guiding means; andmeans releasably holding the member in position overlying the arm, saidmeans being released to permit movement of the member and retractedpusher away from the arm to expose the rear staple receiving opening inthe magazine to readily receive staples therein.

4. In a stapling device having an arm provided with a rear openingstaple magazine to receive and hold staples therein and a staple drivinghead at the forward end provided with staple driving means, and a pusherpositioned in the magazine to engage the staples and feed them to aposition to be driven by the staple driving means; the improvementwherein a member is pivotally mounted adjacent the forward end of saidarm and is movable about said pivot to and from a position overlying thearm; means mounting the pusher on the member for movement therewith andfor longitudinal movement therealong; a coil spring carried by themember for movement therewith and engaging and urging the pusherforwardly to feed the staples in the magazine; means on the pusher formoving the pusher to retracted position; a spring pressed latch on themember for engaging and releasably holding the pusher in retractedposition against the urging of the coil spring; and a spring pressedlatch on the member engaging the arm and holding the member in positionoverlying the arm and upon being released enabling the member andlatched pusher to be moved away from the arm to expose the rear staplereceiving opening in the magazine to readily receive staples therein.

5. In a stapling device having an arm provided with a rear openingstaple magazine to receive and hold staples therein and a staple drivinghead at the forward end provided with staple driving means, and a pusherpositioned in the magazine to engage the staples and feed them to aposition to be driven by the staple driving means; the improvementwherein a cover is pivotally mounted adjacent the forward end of saidarm and is movable about said pivot to and from a position overlying thearm; means mounting the pusher on the cover for movement therewith andfor longitudinal movement therealong; means mounted on the cover forurging the push er forwardly to feed the staples in the magazine; meanson the pusher for moving the pusher to retracted position; means on thecover for engaging and releasably holding the pusher in retractedposition; and means releasably holding the cover in position overlyingthe arm, said means being released to permit movement of the member andretracted pusher away from the arm to expose the rear staple receivingopening in the magazine to readily receive staples therein.

6. In astapling device having an arm provided with a rear opening staplemagazine to receive and hold staples therein and a staple driving headat the forward end provided with staple driving means, and a pusherpositioned in the magazine to engage the staples and feed them to aposition to be driven by the staple driving means; the improvementwherein a cover is pivotally mounted adjacent the forward end of saidarm and is movable about said pivot to and from a position overlying thearm; an elongate rod within the cover for mounting the pusher on thecover for movement therewith and for longitudinal movement therealong; acoil spring surrounding said rod for engaging and urging the pusherforwardly to feed the staples in the magazine; means on the pusher formoving the pusher to retracted position; means on the cover for engagingand releasably holding the pusher in retracted position against theurging of said coil r spring; and means releasably holding the cover inposition overlying the arm, said means being released to permit movementof the member and retracted pusher away from the arm to expose the rearstaple receiving opening in the magazine to readily receive staplestherein.

'7. In a stapling device having an arm provided with a rear openingstapling magazine to receive and hold staples therein and a stapledriving head at the forward end provided with staple driving means, anda pusher positioned in the magazine to engage the staples and feed themto a position to be driven by the staple driving means, said pusherhaving a manipulating finger; the improvement wherein a cover ispivotally mounted adjacent the forward end of said arm and is movableabout said pivot to and from a position overlying the arm; meansmounting the pusher on the cover for movement therewith and forlongitudinal movement therealong, said cover having a longitudinal slottherein through which the manipulating finger projects for movement ofthe pusher to retracted position; means mounted on the cover for urgingthe pusher forwardly to feed the staples in the magazine; latch means onthe cover for engaging the manipulating finger and releasably holdingthe pusher in retracted position; and means releasably holding the coverin position overlying the arm and upon being released enabling the coverand pusher to be moved away from the arm to expose the rear staplereceiving opening in the magazine to readily receive staples therein.

8. In a stapling device having a base, an arm pivotally mounted on thebase adjacent the rear end and having a rear opening staple magazineprovided with staple guides to receive and hold staples therein and astaple driving head at the forward end provided with staple drivingmeans, and a pusher positioned in the magazine to move under said guidesto engage the staples and feed memes them to a position to be driven bythe staple driving means; the improvement wherein a, cover is pivoted tothe staple driving heed and extends rearwa-rcily therefrom and ismovable about said pivot to and from a, position overlying the arm;means mounting the pusher on the cover for movement therewith and forlongitudinal movement therealong, the guides on said magazineterminating inwardly of the rear end of the mags.- zine for releasingthe pusher from the magazine for movement with the cover; means mountedon the cover for urging the pusher forwardly to feed the staples; meanson the pusher for moving the pusher to retracted position; means on thecover for engaging and latching the pusher in a retracted position; andineans releasably latching the cover in bositioii '69 living the arm,said means being released to ii'i'ifl it movement of the member andretre'ctea piish'i' 5W3}? froiii the arm to expose the rear stem"i'eiving obening in the magazine to reeany ree'eive sta'ples thef- V R.CURTISS. References oi't'ea in the file of this pate t fifii'iifi TAiESfiAiEN'i Name Date Vail Mai. 8, 1949

